CIVIC ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 18 April 1913, Page 6

CIVIC ELECTIONS.

ADDRESS BY MR. MORIARTY. PROGRAMME OUTLINED. Mr. D. Moriarty, a candidate for a s?at in the Wellington City Council, opened his campaign in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night. Mr. T. M. Wilford presided. There were about 100 people present. Mr. Moriarty said that his municipal platform was: 1. A square deal for everyone and favour fcr none. 2. Prohibition against borrowing at the present time, for money is dear and will bo dearer. 3. The introduction of legislation to provide for the approval of the City Engineer being first obtained before plans of subdivisions of blocks of land could be passed, thus assisting town planniug. i. The partnership of the city and the Government in a water-power scheme at Akatarawa on the lines of Mr. Kichardson's report, thereby reducing the cost of light to tlio ratepayers, and enabling the electrification of the railway from Wellington to fhe suburbs to be undertaken. 5. Consideration of the current city loans, with a view to arranging when money becomes cheaper for the conversion of those loans bearing high rates of interest. 6. Improved street cleaning. 7. The establishment of municipal laundries to meet the Chinese invasion into this field of industry. 8. A fair day's pay for a fair ■ day's work, 9. Settlement of disputes by arbitration. 10. The establishment of a fire board under the Act, so that the -Government with its large and valuable wooden buildings, should contribute a fair share towards the cost of the brigade which protects that property. 11. The taking over by the council of tboso private streets which were made in the past under the authority of the council then Tilling. 12. The re-introduction of the Wellington Milk Bill, in order to obtain pure Milk tor the people. Mr. Moriarty said 'that he was standing as an independent, not belonging to any party, organisation, or clique, and so was in a position to give the public a square deal. If any plain speaking was wauled, they could rely on his being free and independent, and ready to do it. As to his second plant, he knew that it would not bo a good thing to advocate it he wished to get into the council at any price. He was in favour of some of the schemes, freely advocated—for instance, tho Constable Street tram extonsion, but it was not wise to borrow money tor these schemes now when money w-as so dear. It would be better to wait, s av, a year, when money would be cheaper. The fares ?" »>e ""PS constructed would be cheaper it the cost could be kept down. The Chinese question was one which was going to trouble New Zealand. He was heartily in favour of a white New Zeaand. The Chinese had monopolised the laundry work of the city. Wellington was a city ot boardinghouses, and if there were municipal laundries the young .people would take their clothing 'there, 'and the Chinese would be ousted. There were schemes for town planning, for the consolidation and conversion of loans,, for street-widening, for the acquisition of the gas company's concern, and for a steam terry service, which he approved; but, knowing the stringency of the money market, tho ever-boomed price of land, and the general slump in landed estate, he could only say that for the schemes mentioned-Hhe time- was not yet. The city's whole revenue to-dav was .£425,000, the wages alone .£170,000, the interest on borrowed money payable annually amounted to ,£91,000, and, besides, .£21,000 had to be provided every year for sinking funds. Obviously the 'city's policy must be caution till the financial cloud lifted, for high rate of interest on borrowed money meant high rents, which hit the worker every time.

Mr. Moriarty ■' then proceeded to deal with his relations witli'the Labdiif party,' and his reasons for declining to stand on their ticket. This portion of his' speech is reported elsewhere.

The candidate, returning to general affairs, said that he believed in a fair day's wags for a fair day's work, and (hut to expect more would bo to steal. If that was conservatism, then lie. was a Conservative. "If the workers want arbitration and the various planks I stand for, it is their duty to vote for me," lie said.' "If they want revolutionary Socialism and Syndicalism, it is their duty to elect the Labour fifteen."

On the motion of Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, seconded by Mr. Taylor, Mr. Moriarty was accorded a licarty vote of thanks and confidence. A motion for "thanks only" was supported by about ten persons.

MR. PERRY AT BROOKLYN. OPENING ADDRESS. Mi'. YV. Perry, a candidate for municipal honours at the biennial City Council, elections this month, delivered his iiiiuigural address at Brooklyn last evening. The weather and counter attractions unfortunately militated against a large attendance. " Mr. W. Heaty presided. Iu his introductory remarks, Mr. Perry referred to his connection with tho Wellington Amateur Spoi-ts Federation. It had been rumoured, lie said, that ho was standing as a nominee of the sports bodies. "1 now publicly give that rumour a lint and emphatic contradiction," he said. "I believe firmly iu sport. I believe it is a good tiling for the nation that a young man should take part in some form of sport or other, but the young man who simply lives for sport and nothing else is a. fool to himself and no good to anybody. I have told the Wellington Rugby Union, I have told the Federation of Sports Bodies, that I will not be their nominee on Hio council; that if I am elected to the council I will not be there to be at the beck and call of the sports bodies. If an application comes from tho sports bodies and I think that application is in tho interests of the city, 1 will vote for it, but if I think that it is not iu the interests of the city, I will vote against it. I am standing as a. citizen of Wellington, and us that I stand or fall." The present position of the city, he continued, seemed to be that they should carefully look aftor what they already had and go on developing slowly and cautiously. Tho citizens paid dearly in tho way of street widening and other things for" the disastrous short-sightedness of its earlier councillors, and it behoved present and future councillors to take heed of, and profit by, the mistakes of the past. All future ,-chemrs should be watched carefully with an eye lo town planning—a general scheme of city improvement. The

sards <ii" this movement had been sown, and the interest. of tlie citizens aroused by the recent carnival, which showed that the people were awakening lo the ideal of a city beautiful. Willi the population increasing .yearly, lic-li playgrounds should be opened up where po--ii)L\ especially at Wadestown, Northland, and Brooklyn. The speaker also advocated the establishment of tepid and "hot water baths for the city, the construction of a traffic tunnel to Kilbirnie, the acquisition of the Ivelburne tramway by the corporation, ami the erection of an adequate number of sanitary conveniences, the present number being, ha said, disgracefully inadequate. lie saw no reason why such parts of the Town Belt as were not being used by the people—such parts as were neither use nor .ornament—should not be leased by the council for bowling greens or tennis courts, .as the case might bo. These parts would be leased for a certain term nnd resumed at the cud of such term.\ Referring to (lis tramways, the speaker said that this department should pay not only the intcre.-t. but should also pay depreciation and sinking fund. hi conclusion. Mr. Perry contended that (lie Mayor ought, to be elected by the City Council from one of their number, as was done in London, Melbourne. Sydney, and other largo cities, in the world.

The candidate received an excellent hearing, and his criticisms of the council were frequently endorsed by his audience.

JIK. IX'KM AT XKWTOWN. ' Mr. .t. I'. Luke, candidate far the City Mayoralty, addressed a meeting of about: HHI" clock"-, at the Newtown School last evening. Mr. Ueo. Scott presiding. Jlr. I.i:k:». who traversed the main points of his iirjvi'ju- address, paid'a high tribute In the Wellington people f.ir Iheir'entcr-pri-e in imiiiieipal work. The public ulililic-. of I lie cily, he said, were not eseelliMl Bliywliere in New Zealand. The duU nuiitun-e, he went on to say, should bo systematically dealt with—the streets

and adjacent footpaths swept every morning, water-tables cleaned, and conditions generally improved. The tarring of Waterloo Quay and also the city end of the Hutt Koad would also assist in this improvement.

In the management of the city tramways, he stood for sound finance—the undertaking should meet all charges and depreciation requirement?. The Trannvavs Department had suffered, with other business concerns, in recent years, but lie believed that there was a brighter outlook in store. He was in favour of cooperating with the Tramway Hoard to secure fair and equitable conditions. It had to lie admitted, of course, that variations in the sections would continue with the expansion and development of the city—scientific ski!l would ultimately remove existing disabilities in that respect. Further, the city should be educated to the idea of approaching Parliament with regard to the running of cars through the Basin Reserve. Mr. Luke quoted from past City Council reports to show that certain resolutions submitted by him in regard to the linking-up the Wallace Sh'cet-Joliii Street, and Constable StreetKilbirnie sections with the main system had been adopted by the council. Mr. Luke also advocated a traffic tunnel through Mount Victoria, an enterprise in which Minimal 1 , as a beneficiary, should bo associated, and (lie expenditure each year of a substantial sum in extending the Esplanado in Oriental Bay.

At the conclusion of the proceedings a hearty veto of thanks and confidenec, on the motion of Mr. G. ShallcvaSN (reprpseiiting business interests), seconded by Mr. AY. Oxenham (a Labour man), was accorded the candidate.

CANDIDATES' MEETINGS. . Mr. J. P. Luke, who will stand for the Wellington Citv Mnvoral Election on Wednesday, April 30, will address the electors as follows:—Friday, April 18, the Schoolroom, Sydney Street, Thorndon; Monday, Anril 21, Masonic Hall, Brooklyn. All Mr. Luke's meetings commence at 8 p.m. Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, who is a candidate for the City Council, will address electors at. the Druids' Hall, Tarauaki Street, at 8 o'clock this evening. Messrs. Buddie, M'Keiisie, roi'il Wright, will address the electors at (lie Wadestown Hall at 8 o'clock this evening.